A Modest Rant on Video Game Soundtracks

[Zantos]

Red Dead Redemption has a fantastic soundtrack. Really really good.

The thing is, the soundtrack is meant to compliment the experience rather than overwhelm it. If the music is distracting you from what you're supposed to be doing then it isn't doing it's job right.

EDIT: Also, Cthulhu Saves the World. That set such a fantastic mood that I couldn't help but feel upbeat and cheery.

 

[k-ossuburb]

You damn kids, I'll show you what REAL music is.







And then go search for "Guilty Gear XX OST" on Youtube. Plenty of great music there.

 

[Batou667]

I think it's staggeringly incorrect to say games don't have good music. Most AAA games have music on par with films these days.

- On the one hand, there's games with licensed soundtracks. Tony Hawk, Need For Speed, Burnout Paradise, that malarkey.

- Then there are games which have music integral to the experience. Jet Set Radio, Rez, Space Channel 5, Dance Dance Revolution... shit, I just named my favourite Dreamcast games, didn't I?

- Some games however just wouldn't feel right if they were accompanied by the constant thump of RnB. In some games, ambient sounds, incidental music or plain old silence just work better. Just because you're not bopping along to some sweet tunes every time you have a blast on Gritty Urban Shooter 4, doesn't mean the developer is "doing it wrong".

- In the case of incidental music, sometimes the hallmark of success is discreetness. The music shoud be complementing the action but playing second fiddle (quite literally).

- And finally, I suppose a reason why a lot of modern games don't have "soundtracks" as such but rely more on background music, is the need for the protagonists to be heard talking. Going from Monkey Island 2 (text dialogue) to Monkey Island 3 (spoken dialogue) it's quite noticeable how the volume - and quality - of music dips in the later game.

 

[inFAMOUSCowZ]

I think most video games have great sound tracks, I actually really enjoy just listening to them instead of actual songs. Some stand out more than others, but for the most part, they're pretty good.


Here you have two great games. Each with a great soundtrack. One is an old school game the other a recent major release.

 

[Vrach]

The music is SUPPOSED to be the background sound in 99% cases. That doesn't mean it's either unnoticeable, forgettable, bad or not on par with the other media.

Pretty much any score by Jeremy Soule (Morrowind, Oblivion, NWN, KOTOR games etc.) or Jesper Kyd (Assassin's Creed games, Hitman games, Borderlands etc.) is pure gold and they're not alone with it.

Now, you may not notice the music in games much, but that's how music for games is designed. It's not designed for you to look around trying to find an orchestra playing, it's designed to enhance a moment in the game or be the backdrop for it, neither of which make it inferior. If I boot up an old game, the music is gonna be one of the first things I'm gonna recognize and remember. And if I hear a score from a game I've played, it's gonna invoke a whole lot of memories and emotions. Morrowind and Oblivion themes in particular bring up a whole lot of them and I remember trying to pick up my jaw off the floor after unlocking the Truth video in Assassin's Creed, a HUGE part of which was the music that had my pulse beating like crazy.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

I usually only notice soundtracks when they consist of specific modern songs. Like Flatout: UC.

If they just play obscure orchestral music in the background though, you can't blame anyone for not noticing.

I think the only orchestral soundtracks I recognise are Halo and Mass Effect.

I know you mentioned Halo, but have you played through ODST? That game had the absolute best soundtrack I've heard to anything, ever.

Spoiler

I really loved this game, and it's score, I think it's a shame it got such a bad public response.

The mood and atmosphere are amazing. I really felt the loneliness they were trying to create.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

You damn kids, I'll show you what REAL music is.

Spoiler

Ahh memories. I still play classic Tetris though.

 

[Vrach]

And once again, the indie developers prove their prevalence in another field: music.

I take your 5 (quite excellent) examples, and raise 5 of my own to defend the mainstream games!

To quote the YouTube commenter from the second video, Jeremy 'fuckin' genius' Soule:

Spoiler: Morrowind

Spoiler: Oblivion, live performance for a change!

Jesper Kyd:

Spoiler: AC2, Wetlands Escape (part of it plays during the Truth video)

Spoiler: Hitman Contracts theme

And for the fifth, I don't know the composer, but the theme is the one... the only...

Spoiler: Battlefield 1942

Warning: Turns girls into boys, boys into men, men into Gods and God into a little girl. No, but seriously, epic soundtrack.

 

[Mestraal]

-snip-

Gotta say, To Zanarkand is one of my favourite tracks. Ever.

Anyway, Kingdom Hearts series always has great music, take the Organization XIII theme

Spoiler: Such a haunting theme

 

[KnowYourOnion]

Halo CE. In my opinion it redefined the standard of video game music, I mean come on if you listened to it now you could tell what game it's from in the first thirty seconds

 

[Zay-el]

I agree with the general opinion floating around, that just because the music doesn't boom molten emotions into your ear, doesn't make it any less epic. Granted, some tunes are there for purely background moments, while some exist to intensify the situation, but as long as they're actually good, nothing else matters.

With that said, let me jump the wagon as well! I hope I haven't been ninja-ed on most of these.

I'm going to do a double feature first, because honestly, both of these themes are just beautiful.

Spoiler: Haunting and beautiful at the same time, sets the tone for the entire game

Spoiler: This. If you have played this game, you know where this song appeared, almost at the very end. I will not spoil it, but it's a gut-wrenching and at the same time heartwarming scene of terror, reconciliation and eventually, forgiveness.

Spoiler: Best bar music ever.

Spoiler: Really hard choice, because the whole soundtrack is brilliant, but when you hear this, it really gives you the feeling that you've just changed the world.

Spoiler: Last one, but I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this song.

 

[Dethenger]

Spoiler: Not enough love for Dark Cloud.

Brilliant game.

 

[GameChanger]

I am sad no-one had mentioned the Myst soundtracks yet. In my opinion it's Jack Wall's better work compared to Mass Effect.

Spoiler: Ambient, melodic and mysterious.

Ambient, melodic and mysterious.

Spoiler: And then there's the main theme:

And then there's the main theme:

Better than Mass Effect in my opinion, but I'm a fan of large orchestra and choirs.

 

[Valok]

Alright people, let me just end this.

WARNING: There's a good chance you will end up imagining yourself with a guitar, make sure you're the only person in the room.

/thread

In all seriousness, I do agree with the OP. There are excelent soundtracks to be found? Sure there is, however considering the amount of games (specially AAA's) available there's definetly not as many. Rare were the times where I actually went after the soundtrack after playing the game.

EDIT: If you're into WW2, take a look.

 

[Dark Knifer]

I don't really see what you are talking about. Space marine for example, pretty bland game, but listen to the soundtrack.


Pretty damn good in my opinion and suited the theme of epic battles and the feeling of being a hero etc.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

The thing that bugs me about most Game Music is that it is becoming way too common with Orchestral and vocal instrumentation. It all sounds like big blustery epic soundtracks with screaming choruses and huge brass sections.

Now that is fine, but when fifty games start sounding similar because of it, then it gets a little aggravating. Which is why I've chosen the Portal 2 Soundtrack as the best score of 2011.

Spoiler: Just Listen to this stuff

 

[Cogwheel]

Snip

Thank you. Excellent videos aside, you've pretty much made my point for me: A great deal of music is ambient background stuff in video games (take, for instance, Metroid), and almost all of it is meant to compliment something or the other, which means it will often be a bit less impressive by itself. Still pretty great on a regular basis, mind you, and the west finally seems to be paying more attention to music (before, Japan seemed to put a bit more emphasis on it in games, though that could just be me).


Now, I hate to be that one guy who has to inject Touhou into every discussion like some sort of internet plague - albeit one that I happen to like - but given that the games were created so the designer would have something to make music for, and the stages are set to change just so they sync with the music... well, I figure it's worth a mention. For instance, stage four of Perfect Cherry Blossom.


Or if you want music by itself...

 

[VaughanyT]

I thought the music made for Heavy Rain was outstanding, was certainly done better than the voice acting at any rate! Plus, I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, but I think developers make a big decision to go with their own scores instead of licensed tracks. That maybe why they're less about simplistic rythms that could make them a bit more memorable and instead concentrate on making them epic. Just my opinion.

 

[putowtin]

The soundtracks to Assassins Creed (the whole series is brilliant but my favourite has to be AC II) are a prime example of music really adding to the the feeling and atmosphere of a game.

Another stand out for me has to be Mass Effect, especially Mass Effect 2's
A piece that really grabs you, and holds you through the Suicide mission.